Implementation Checklist

How to set up rules and preferences for circulation?

Before you start circulating your collection you'll need to set up your rules and preferences for circulation.

Define your Circulation/Fine rules
Enter the days your library is closed for fines and due date calculations
Circulation System Preferences
- CircControl : Define whether circ rules are based on item's location, patron's location or transaction location
- useDaysMode : Define how due dates are calculated
- finesCalendar : Define how fines are calculated (for every late date or only for days the library is open)
- SpecifyDueDate : Decide if staff are allowed to override due dates on checkout
- SpecifyReturnDate : Decide if you want to let the staff specify an arbitrary return date on checkin
- itemBarcodeFallbackSearch : Decide if you want staff to be able to checkout using a keyword search (title, call number, etc)
- AutomaticItemReturn : Decide if items are sent back to the owning branch when checked in
- todaysIssuesDefaultSortOrder : Decide how items checked out today display on the patron record
- previousIssuesDefaultSortOrder : Decide how items checked out prior to today display on the patron record
- noissuescharge : Define the maximum amount a patron can owe before checkouts are blocked
- ReturnBeforeExpiry : Decide if patrons need to return items before their accounts expire
- AllowHoldsOnDamagedItems : Decide if patrons can place holds on items that are marked as damaged
  - AllowHoldPolicyOverride : Decide if you want the staff to be able to override the setting for the above at checkout
- maxreserves : Decide how many items a patron can have on hold at once
  - AllowHoldPolicyOverride : Decide if you want the staff to be able to override the setting for the above at checkout
- maxoutstanding : Define the maximum amount a patron can owe before holds are blocked
  - AllowHoldPolicyOverride : Decide if you want the staff to be able to override the setting for the above at checkout
- ReservesMaxPickUpDelay : Define the number of days before a hold expires
- WebBasedSelfCheck : Decide if you want to use the built in web-based self-checkout system
  - AutoSelfCheckAllowed : Decide if the self-checkout system requires login
  - ShowPatronImageInWebBasedSelfCheck : Decide if you want patron images to show on the self checkout screen
- AllowNotForLoanOverride : Decide if you want the staff to be able to checkout items marked as 'not for loan'
- AllowRenewalLimitOverride : Decide if you want staff to override the limit put on renewals
- AllowFineOverride : Decide if you want staff to be able to override fine limits
- AllowTooManyOverride : Descide if you want staff to be able to check out more than the limit to a patron
- RenewalPeriodBase : Decide what date renewals are based on
- finesMode : Switch to 'Calculate and Charge' before go live if you charge fines
- OverdueNoticeBcc : If you want to receive a copy of every overdue notice sent out, enter your email address here
- emailLibrarianWhenHoldIsPlaced : Decide if you want an email every time a hold is placed
- ReservesControlBranch : Decide which branch's hold rules are considered first
- soundon : Decide if you want to have sounds on for circulation actions
- FilterBeforeOverdueReport : If you have a large amount of overdues, you might want to turn this preference on so as to allow you to filter before results appear
- DisplayClearScreenButton : If you have a lot of staff members sharing one circ computer you might want to enable this so that staff can clear the screen in between checkouts to protect patron's privacy
- CircAutoPrintQuickSlip : Decide how you want Koha to react if you scan in a blank barcode on the checkout screen
- SuspendHoldsIntranet and/or SuspendHoldsOpac : Decide if you want patrons and/or staff to be able to suspend holds
  - AutoResumeSuspendedHolds : If you allow holds to be suspended decide if you want them to automatically resume on the date entered by the staff and/or patron
- OnSiteCheckouts : Decide if you want to allow items to be checked out for use within the library
- RecordLocalUseOnReturn : Set this to record local use of items when you check them in
Customize your Notices & Slips
Define your Overdue Notice Triggers
Set up your cron jobs
- Populate your holds queue (every 1-4 hours)
- Decide when holds expire (daily)
- Calculate fines due (daily)
  - Fines on hourly loans will calculate when you check the items in
- Mark long overdue items as lost (daily)
- Decide when the system sends out messages (1-4 hours)
- Decide when the system queues overdue notices (daily)
- Set up hold notices that didn't send for printing (daily after overdues and message queue)
- Decide when the system queues the advanced notice of items due (daily)
- Find holds that need to be resumed and remove suspension (daily)
- If you're allowing automatic renewal of items set them to renew (nightly)